As a result of the alkaline liquid metal coolants development: sodium, eutectic alloys of sodium potassium, lithium, cesium, together with the industry institutes, the Academy of Sciences and design bureaus carrying out the development of nuclear power plants, the scientific basis for their application in nuclear energy were development, the thermohydraulic parameters and highly efficient technologies were scientific substantiated. The main research areas were: a hydrodynamics and heat transfer in the core and equipment of fast reactor, in flow parts of collector systems of heat exchangers and reactors; a boiling and condensation processes, a analysis and generalization of thermophysical data, a creation of a database, a heat pipes, a thermal physics of thermionic converters, high temperature nuclear power plants for space purposes and thermonuclear installations. The tasks of further research arising from the need to improve safety, efficiency, environmental friendliness, reliability and prolongation of the resource of operating and created nuclear power plants are formulated, the solution of which is relevant for the development of liquid metal technology. The use of liquid alkali metals is promising in high temperature nuclear power plants for technological and space purposes and in thermonuclear installations, where they can be not only a heat carrier, but also a medium that reproduces tritium.